Hate to post twice in a row but out here in the sticks there are a lot of cattle operations. The cattle are grazed on leased land all year. They are moved to the high range (mountains) in the summer then brought down to the lower range (foot hills) in the winter where the temps are more mild and the food is easier to find. The heifers calf out in the lower range. In the spring the cow/calf pairs are rounded up. Calfs are branded, de-horned, and castrated (is this the abuse you speak of?). Then everyone is moved back to the high range. In the fall there is a round-up (yes we still have good ol' fashioned round ups). Steers are shipped to feed lots to be fattened and processed, heifers bred, starts all over. So meat cattle DO NOT spend their lives in pens. They wander around the hills eating whatever they want. No they don't have little metal shelters to hide in but they are pretty tough.

However, now that I've said all that, this post is about weather or not you raise your own meat. Yup, I do. :)

You're missing what I was saying. I was specifically talking about giant feed lots that are owned by places like Walmart and McDonald's. I am pretty sure no one takes every one of them out for their afternoon grazing session. Which is one of the reasons I prefer locally raised beef over anything else.

You're missing what I was saying. I was specifically talking about giant feed lots that are owned by places like Walmart and McDonald's. I am pretty sure no one takes every one of them out for their afternoon grazing session. Which is one of the reasons I prefer locally raised beef over anything else.

This:

Or this:

There is no question really.

Okay I get what you are saying about the "big name" company feed lots. I wouldn't eat a McDonalds if I was starving and I had a "steak" friends bought from wal-mart. Are we sure that's even meat?? I agree that raising your own or locally grown is best :)

You can't really compare those photos to each other... The first one is of beef cattle, second one is of dairy cows.

But I do understand what you are saying, having them being as organic as can be, like having as much possible grass and hay. No harsh grains like corn used only to fatten them up, they are not standing in their own poo.

You're missing what I was saying. I was specifically talking about giant feed lots that are owned by places like Walmart and McDonald's. I am pretty sure no one takes every one of them out for their afternoon grazing session. Which is one of the reasons I prefer locally raised beef over anything else.

This:

Or this:

There is no question really.

The top photo is a commerical feed lot. The bottom photo is a dairy farm. Apples and oranges.

We raise beef. With the steers we intend to butcher, they are penned and fed. They don't wander pastures to walk off weight. Our cow/calf pairs are on pasture.

I raise black angus for a living, when we sell the steers at 4/5 weigh I keep two and feed em out to 15weight, then slaughter and freeze and split with the family and friends. I also raise a hog and chickens each year. Chickens for eggs and supper!

I am a 4-H member, and that says it all. I believe if you are going to eat meat, you should ALWAYS know where it comes from.

However, I am a vegan (doesn't eat meat, eggs or milk)

I just couldn't stand how people slaughter these animals in horrible conditions, so I refused to eat any meat, not even the ones I knew were well cared for, because I believe that humans, that have the choice, need to stop eating meat in general, because it would be a big healthy step for humanity. On the other hand, that is not going to happen until we end poverty and every civilization is united to become one big one that supports us all.

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